Editing Window manager (section)

=== Stacking window managers ===
{{Main article|Stacking window manager}}

All window managers that have overlapping windows and are not compositing window managers are [[stacking window manager]]s, although it is possible that not all use the same methods. Stacking window managers allow windows to overlap by drawing background windows first, which is referred to as the [[painter's algorithm]]. Changes sometimes require that all windows be re-stacked or repainted, which usually involves redrawing every window. However, to bring a background window to the front usually only requires that one window be redrawn, since background windows may have bits of other windows painted over them, effectively erasing the areas that are covered.